Contents

About

Policies have several functions in todayâs complex organizations. Their statement help define the values of the organization, and they help managers and staff translate those values into service priorities. Policies establish a standard for services that can be understood by users of the service and providers. Policies ensure equitable treatment for all, and polices provide a framework for delivery of services. When policies have been adopted by a libraryâs governing agents in a formal process and are consistent with local, state, and federal laws, they will be enforceable.

Policies from the American Library Association

The Council of the American Library Association determines policies for the Association. The ALA Policy Manual has two sections two sections: Organization and Operational Policies, and Positions and Public Policy Statements. The latter group covers the following topics:

50. National Information Services and Responsibilities

51. Federal Legislative Policy

52. Services and Responsibilities of Libraries

53. Intellectual Freedom

54. Library Personnel Practices

55. Standards and Guidelines

56. Library Education

57. Research and Statistics

58. International Relations

59. Public Relations

60. Minority Concerns

61. Library Services for the Poor

For Intellectual Freedom issues, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom has developed longer statements, with background information that will help individual libraries develop specific local policies.

Print material

Creating policies for results : from chaos to clarity / Sandra Nelson and June Garcia for the Public Library Association. Chicago: ALA, 2003.